Obituary of Leslie H. J. Groeneveld

Leslie "Opa" Groeneveld, 95, passed away Thursday morning, May 22, 2014, in Newton, at the home of his daughter's Barbara. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left in Bud's Name. Funeral services for Bud will be Tuesday, May 27, 2014, at the First Baptist Church in Eldora, IA. Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home in Newton, have been entrusted with the arrangements. Pastor Mark Chapman, pastor of the church, will conduct the services. Visitation with the family will be held Monday evening, May 26, at the church. Leslie H.J. "Bud" Groeneveld, "Opa" to his grandchildren, was the son of John J. and Tillie (Lindaman) Groeneveld, he was born May 15, 1919, in German Township, Grundy County, Iowa. A lifelong resident of the Grundy and Hardin Counties, he attended rural school, and growing up on the farm in Hardin County. Bud had served his country with the US Army, 222d Quartermaster Salvage and Repair Company in New Guiney, during World War II. On December 16, 1942, Bud was united in marriage with Fern C. Sutherland in Grundy County. To this union was born three children: Barbara, Gene and Jon. Bud was employed for many years by Barnard Implements in Eldora, as a parts and service manager. He later retired in 1981, as a balk truck operator for Lavelle Oil Company in Eldora. He devoted his life to his family, was a member of the First Baptist Church in Eldora, and was a Life Member of the American Legion Walter Sayer Post #1215 in Eldora. He enjoyed wood working, helping with his grandchildren and feeding his birds and squirrels. Bud "Opa" will be greatly missed by his family and friends, those that loved him. Those left to honor Bud's memory include his wife Fern; his daughter and son-in-law Barbara and Levi Pence of Newton; his sons and daughter-in-law: Gene and Marilyn Groeneveld of Newton, and Jon Groeneveld of Newton; his eight grandchildren and twenty-four great-grandchildren; his sister Lavera Boelman of Marshalltown; his brother Dean Groeneveld of Marshalltown; many nieces, nephews and cousins; and his many friends. Bud was preceded in death by his parents.